Alice in Wonderland is the country’s most-read book
Charles Dickens’s classic novel A Christmas Carol is the book that parents want their children to read more than any other.
Other selections that would please mothers and fathers were JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books and JRR Tolkien’s timeless The Lord of the Rings trilogy, a survey by the University of Worcester revealed.
One in five parents and guardians would be happiest if their child chose to read Dickens’s Victorian tale, with the more modern series following in second and third places.
Influential: The famous work by the 19th century English novelist is still considered a valuable read for children
Iconic romance novelist Jane Austen came next with Pride and Prejudice, followed by Lewis Carroll’s fantasy adventure Alice in Wonderland and political satire Animal Farm by George Orwell.
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien, which is being released as a Hollywood blockbuster later this year, comes ninth and another political story – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – is tenth.
Anne Hannaford, Director of Information and Learning Services at the university, said: ‘It is interesting to see that most of the popular books to pass down the generations have strong moral messages entwined in them.
‘The books that feature in the top 10 all provide thought-provoking content and characters, so it is clear that parents value these books for providing challenging thoughts which can last a lifetime.‘
Spooked: A vignette from A Christmas Carol, when memorable character Ebenezer Scrooge meets Marley’s ghost
The survey took place to mark the opening of The Hive in Worcester – Europe’s first joint university and public library.
Ms Hannaford added: ‘It is great to see that parents want to share their love of reading and their favourite books with their children and we see this every day at The Hive with parents reading with their children in the library.’
via Charles Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol tops parents’ list for their offspring | Mail Online.
